The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Celtic still lead by seven points after late winner from Gers new boy Hagi
MOTHERWELL 0 CELTIC 4
Celtic’s comprehensive 4-0 win over Motherwell at Fir Park last night kept the champions on a steady course for their ninth successive Ladbrokes Premiership title.
In-form striker Odsonne Edouard scored after nine minutes of a first half in which the battling home side had missed several chances.
However, it became too much when Leigh Griffiths prodded in number two in the 51st minute before Callum Mcgregor added a third with a thunderous volley.
Edouard then curled in a wonderful free-kick, his second set-piece strike in two matches, for his 24th goal of the season as Celtic secured a sixth victory in a row since they lost to chasing Rangers at the end of last year.
Motherwell were equally enterprising in the opening stages and debutant winger Rolando Aarons, signed on loan from Newcastle, had a leftfooted shot from 25 yards easily saved by goalkeeper Fraser Forster before Well attacker Jermaine Hylton drove wide.
Moments later, the home side felt the full force of Celtic’s French forward when he combined with midfielder Mcgregor in a swift attack.
When Edouard got the break of the ball after his first attempt on goal was blocked, he calmly slipped it under Steelmen keeper Mark Gillespie.
Griffiths scooped an Olivier Ntcham cut-back over the bar from eight yards, while Well’s Aarons hit the outside of the post but was penalised for a foot up on Celtic defender Greg Taylor.
Aarons had a great chance just before the break after Simunovic had missed the ball but his angled-drive from 12 yards was brilliantly saved by Forster for a corner which came to nothing.
Six minutes after the break Celtic doubled their lead when Mcgregor ended a penetrating run into the Motherwell penalty area by cutting the ball back for the unmarked Griffiths to knock it past Gillespie without too much fuss for his fourth goal in six matches.
Ryan Christie replaced Griffiths with 20 minutes remaining before Mcgregor took a pass from James Forrest and volleyed high past Gillespie from the edge of the box.
In the 80th minute Edouard capped another fine performance with a fourth from a 25-yard free-kick, after Christie had been hauled down by Well defender Declan Gallagher.
Motherwell: Gillespie, Grimshaw, Gallagher, Hartley, Carroll, Donnelly, Campbell, Polworth, Aarons (Seedorf 57), Long (Manzinga 71), Hylton (Maciver 71). Subs not used: Carson, Tait, Mugabi, O’hara.
Celtic: Forster, Simunovic, Jullien, Ajer, Forrest, Brown, Mcgregor, Ntcham (Rogic 86), Taylor, Griffiths (Christie 71), Edouard (Klimala 84). Subs not used: Bolingoli Mbombo, Elyounoussi, Bain, Welsh. Attendance: 8,534. Ref: Don Robertson.